Wendy Williams is ‘happy’ as it’s revealed star went out drinking at NYC gay bar to celebrate

Wendy Williams is ‘happy and excited’ and partied at an NYC gay bar to celebrate ‘new things’ in her life, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.

The host, 58, went club-hopping in Manhattan on Friday where she was seen drinking and partying five months after leaving rehab and amid her ongoing health challenges.

She visited venues including Fresco by Scotto and gay bar The Townhouse, with a source telling Page Six: ‘She kept saying she wanted to get drunk tonight.’

The star’s representative Shawn Zanotti exclusively told DailyMail.com: ‘Apparently, Wendy went out celebrating the new things in her life. She is bringing in Wendy 2.0, she is happy and excited for her new opportunities and zest for life. 

‘There are a lot of new things in the works and Wendy was celebrating. Wendy loves her fans and fully supports the LGBTQ community.’

Naughty But Nice podcast host Rob Shuter previously told PageSix the star ‘looked lonely’ sat by herself but then ‘lit up like a Christmas tree to see someone she knew.’

Talking about their meeting on his podcast, he said: ‘We had a bite, we had some drinks, but then when we were getting ready to say goodbye, Wendy didn’t really want us to leave’ before allegedly suggesting going to a bar.

A diner also told the publication: ‘She kept saying she wanted to get drunk tonight. She wasn’t hiding [her drinking]’ before claiming the star said she is moving to LA in three weeks.

The source added that Williams said: ‘She told this table that she was looking for love — and like in Sex and the City, she’s willing to f***.’

Ex Real Housewives of New Jersey star Kim DePaola greeted her at the restaurant before the group went to The Townhouse where Williams is said to have asked the doorman: ‘Do you watch ‘The Wendy Williams Show?’ I’m Wendy Willams.’

The star’s presence at the club saw her pose for photos with fans.

In October it was revealed the star was ‘home and healing’ after going back to rehab to focus on ‘health and wellness’ following a streak of erratic behavior and claims of substance abuse.

Spotted: Naughty But Nice podcast host Rob Shuter told the publication the star ‘looked lonely’ sat by herself but then ‘lit up like a Christmas tree to see someone she knew’ (pictured together)

‘Wendy is excited about the road ahead and looking forward to releasing her many projects,’ the former talk show host’s publicist Shawn Zanotti said in a statement to E! News on Tuesday.

Zanotti continued: ‘She wants to say, “thank you to my fans for your love, support and many prayers, I am back and better than ever.”‘

Zanotti confirmed the previous month that Williams had entered a ‘wellness facility’ in an effort to ‘manage her overall health issues.’

She was ‘being treated by a team of some of the best doctors in the world,’ Zanotti told the outlet, adding that Williams was preparing ‘for a major comeback for the next level in her career with The Wendy Experience Podcast.’

No details about the facility or its location were revealed.

Williams has past been in treatment at locations in New York and Florida.

A diner also told the publication: ‘She kept saying she wanted to get drunk tonight. She wasn’t hiding [her drinking]’ before claiming the star said she is moving to LA in three weeks (pictured last month)

At the time, a source told Page Six that Williams’ substance issues had ‘gotten worse,’ as ‘she went from [drinking] wine to straight up vodka.’

Williams has had difficulties in controlling her drinking, to the detriment of her overall health, which one source described as ‘failing.

They added: ‘She can’t stop drinking and she needs to stop drinking; it’s just making her health worse.’

The talk show host told a photographer recently that she was ‘formerly retired’ amid reports about her comeback, Page Six reported.

Wendy ‘is working on several projects,’ her rep told the outlet, adding that she ‘is ready to get things rolling and get back to being Wendy Williams.’ 

The outlet reported that her podcast called The Wendy Williams Experience was still in the works, which Shawn confirmed: ‘Yes, the podcast is still in the works.’ 

Wendy is focused ‘on her overall wellness’ a source previously revealed, with the star ready to get back to work. 

The star told a photographer while on a grocery run that she is ‘formerly retired’ and is hoping to appear on The View and Late Night with Seth Meyers, via Page Six.

Last week, the outlet reported that Wendy was filming a project inside Manhattan restaurant Fresco by Scotto.

‘Basically it was a regular night… and then all of the sudden the Wendy Williams train arrived,’ an insider said.

In October it was revealed the star was ‘home and healing’ after going back to rehab to focus on ‘health and wellness’ following a streak of erratic behavior and claims of substance abuse (pictured last month)

‘She had a huge crew that basically turned Fresco by Scotto into a movie set… approximately 30 people in the crew. Lights, cameras, audio, producers, etc. [It] looked like a reality show.’

The upcoming project will mark Wendy’s first return to media since The Wendy Williams Show wrapped last June. 

Sherri Shepherd, who filled in for the star during the final season due to the former host’s medical issues, took over the time slot with her own show, Sherri.

It remains unclear when The Wendy Williams Experience will premiere on podcast platforms.